Raiders checking into nose tackle

Alabama nose tackle Josh Chapman is scheduled to meet with the Raiders in a pre-draft visit, according to Scout.com.
The interest makes sense, given coach Dennis Allen’s stated intent to be “multiple” on defense. Playing some or all of a 3-4 scheme would require a stout defender in the middle of the line.
That’s where a player of Chapman’s talents come into play. He is 6-feet-1 and 316 pounds and well versed in the 3-4. We also know he’s plenty tough, as evidenced by his playing the final half of last season with a torn anterior cruciate ligament.
Travis Ivey is the only other true nose tackle on Oakland’s roster. Ivey was signed late in the season to the Raiders practice squad.
“We haven’t decided any of that yet,” Allen said Monday, when asked about the 4-3 vs. the 3-4 next season. “We’re still going through the process of acquiring talent, looking into who we’re going to have on the team next year. Once we get through the draft, we’ll have a better feel what we want to do there.”
Several other teams reportedly are meeting with Chapman. He is regarded as the third-best nose tackle in the upcoming draft and should last into the third round, where the Raiders are scheduled to make their first pick.
The book on Chapman is, he shines against the run and isn’t much of a pass-rusher. Regardless, the Raiders need someone of his build and talent if they intend to play the 3-4.

1202. It tuff to take a stab at the lakers seriously… My team has 16 titles…

Tjbwall

Marks hair Says:
March 29th, 2012 at 10:44 am
1201. I dont hate brown, but some of his line ups are strange…
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I don’t hate the guy either, but I don’t see what hes trying to
accomplish alot of times.

What happened to Goudelock?
Sessions,Goudelock,Barnes,Murph/McRambis,Bynum shouldget a run @ some point in the game.Hard to get into transition with Peace/Kobe on the floor…usually its a 5 on 1 fast break

http://www.raiders.com Raider O

Some may ask, then why not just run a 3-4 defense?
Answer:
1- 5-2 doesn’t need a NT that comes off the field in passing situations
2- can continue to play 4-3 and Nickel, and pressure the QB with 4 guys like the Giants.
3- it can be an asset against the run too
4- I don’t like 3-4 defense, and I think it’s a liability against the pass (if you have a good passing offense).

Just Fire Baby

The Raiders are going to be so much more creative at the line of scrimmage and pre-snap with this new staff, we won’t even know what we are watching it will be so foreign.

did this dude play for the Colts, before?
==========================
Yes, 6’2 240 Olb for the Colts
220 tackles in 24 starts with the Colts
Don’t know much about him but hes know was a solid run stopper
Indy does alot of things in coverage too

Just Fire Baby

I just hope Shonasty isn’t the Chaz Schilens of DE.

Hurt in college, healty a year or two, out last year……..let’s just hope it doesn’t go the wrong way on us here.

1205. yeah yeah….typical faker fan always routing back to the “we have this many titles” rant. depending on your age, im sure you became a fan or jumped back on the wagon when they started winning in 2000.
why dont you mention the longest losing streak yall hold as well.

JLofty

Yeah teams never run anymore. We shouldn’t need ANY DLinemen anymore at all. I’m Arian Foster, or all those Chiefs RBs will be cool with it. Just go home Adrian Peterson, we’ll call you all in 2016 when the guys who post here decide to run the ball again….

Tjbwall

Considered by scouting experts to be one of the nation’s best blitzing linebackers, Philip Wheeler is extremely difficult to knock off his feet.

He was originally recruited as a defensive end, moving to outside linebacker with the Yellow Jackets before shifting inside as a junior.

Despite his erratic play as a senior, he received glowing praise from former head coach Chan Gailey. “Philip has really come a long way since having his hand on the ground (as a defensive end) as a high school senior,” said coach Chan Gailey. “You didn’t know if he could play ‘up’ or not. But he has developed into a great linebacker. He had his hand on the ground every snap in high school as a defensive end. You could see his talent, but you didn’t know if he could develop into the player he has developed into today.”

Philip Wheeler will not be the biggest or strongest linebacker of this class. In fact, it is his undersized 6-2, 238 pound frame that will knock him down the draft a little ways. However, despite those concerns, Wheeler could go in the second round thanks to his great athleticism. Wheeler is a solid cover man for a linebacker and will be able to match up well with most backs and tight ends in the league. Ideally, the Columbus, Georgia native will play in a ‘cover two’ defense where his skills could be best utilized. Despite being a little undersized at 6-2, Wheeler is a strong player who can shed blocks and stuff the run with seeming ease. Wheeler led Georgia Tech as a senior with 88 tackles and added 5.5 sacks and 8.5 tackles for loss and he will use that nice combination of strength and speed to put up some decent numbers in the NFL too. His versatility will get him a long look from a few teams and he could be a steal for the right team in the third round. With a good showing at the combine, it may take a second round selection to get Wheeler. 2/28 Update: Philip Wheeler had one of the better overall combines of any linebacker. The numbers across the board were solid and Wheeler should reap the benefits. His strength and speed did not blow anybody away, but his combination of skills and quick feet will get the scouts’ attention. 3/21 Update: Philip Wheeler improved his overall numbers a bit during his Pro Day compared to the combine. Speed will not be his greatest asset, but Wheeler did prove that he is a solid athlete with decent strength. The linebacker is slowly working his way into a late second round selection, but that has little to do with his numbers off the field. Wheeler’s best asset was his production at Georgia Tech and since he did nothing at the combine or Pro Day to make scouts shy away from him, Wheeler should be a late first day pick. 4/11 Update: The buzz around Philip Wheeler is diminishing a little bit as other linebackers slowly climb up the draft boards. Still, Wheeler is a versatile linebacker who should immediately be able to fill in off the bench at both inside and outside linebacker positions in the right defense. A third round selection is the most likely at this point, but some team may remember his performance at Georgia Tech’s Pro Day and feel they need to use a second round pick on Wheeler in order to secure his services.

did this dude play for the Colts, before?
==========================
Yes, 6′2 240 Olb for the Colts
220 tackles in 24 starts with the Colts
Don’t know much about him but hes know was a solid run stopper
Indy does alot of things in coverage too
==========

Yeah, I kind of remember him in Indy. He played fairly well. The dude w/ the dreads, right?
Where did he play last year.

http://www.raiders.com Raider O

JLofty = A Foster?!

DutchRaider77

Considered by scouting experts to be one of the nation’s best blitzing linebackers, Philip Wheeler is extremely difficult to knock off his feet.

He was originally recruited as a defensive end, moving to outside linebacker with the Yellow Jackets before shifting inside as a junior…..

_______________________________________________

So he might be Wimbley’s replacement if we run a 3-4?

YoungAmerican

Wheeler would definitely be a good fit. Might be a better player than Lawson, though not as versatile.

JLofty

I hate the fokin Lakers. Go to a Lakers blob, er I mean blog if you wanna talk about yellow and purple $#it, ladies. This here is for, how did BSJ put it, “glib repartee” regarding the SILVER AND BLACK!

DutchRaider77

Yeah, I kind of remember him in Indy. He played fairly well. The dude w/ the dreads, right?
Where did he play last year.

Our D will struggle a little at first, with the learning curve. However, I think our D will improve throughout the year, which has never seemed to really happen year after year.

JLofty

Yeah thanks O, * I’m sure…*

http://www.raiders.com Raider O

Shaugbessy needs to stay healthy.

JLofty

New post…

Just Fire Baby

Palmer and D-Moore are going to light some teams up.

1,000+ yards for Moore in 2012

Print that!!!

r8eray

Wheeler, was rated by ProFootballFocus.com as the 12th best 4-3 outside linebacker in the NFL last year. His run stopping grade (+8.9) was 13th best among his peers, and he held his opponents to a 78.7 pass rating, which is 8th best last season.